Rail joint



C. J. NICKERSON RAIL JOINT Filed Feb. 15, 1960 Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR Clifford J. Nic Kerson ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,050,259 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 web 3,050,259 RAIL JGHNT Clifiord James Nickerson, Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada General Delivery, Cawston, British Columbia, Canada) Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 8,86 1 Claim. (Cl. 238191) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints.

Railway rail joints are common in the art, some more efiicient than others, but all joints up to now fail to provide means for causing the abutting ends of the track to come together by means of pressure thereon. The result is frequently derailment of trains or damage to the track. The present invention provides a flexible rail joint which provides for expansion, and contraction of the rail and which in addition provides a means of the abutting ends coming together when a train rolls over the joint.

Broadly, the invention comprises a pair of plates one disposed on each side of the rail, and bolted together much in the same manner as present day rail joints. However in the present case each side plate is formed with a V-shaped groove centrally thereof, and a reinforcing rib on each side of said grooves. The holes through which the plates are bolted together are slotted to allow for expansion and contraction of the rail. The base flange of the joint is also provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs.

The primary object of the present invention is therefore the provision of a rail joint constructed to facilitate expansion and contraction of rails, and to cause alignment of the abutting ends of the rails where the train rolls over the joint.

Other important objects are the provision of a strong and sturdy joint which is comparatively inexpensive to produce, easy to install, and very eflicient in operation.

With these and other objects in view that may appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel arrangement and construction of co-operating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a rail joint constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, and

FIGURE 3 is a view looking underneath.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it will be seen the invention comprises a rail joint formed of two identical members A and B secured together by means of a plurality of bolts 5 fastened with lock washers 6 and nuts 7 through the base flange of the two members. Each member spaced A and B of the device is shaped to the same contour as the lower flange of the rail and each member has a vertical section 8 formed with slots 9 and spaced A and B apart reinforcing ribs 10. The upper extremity of the vertical section 8 is bent outwardly at 11 to fit the under face of the head of the rail. The lower extremity of each member is shaped to fit over and under the rail base flange 12. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 13 are formed on the bottom of the members A and B and add considerable strength to prevent distortion of the rail joint.

In order to provide a certain amount of flexibility to the joint to permit constant alignment of the rails the members A and B are formed with a V-shaped groove 14 from the top edge to a point where the vertical portion is bent outwardly to cover the base flange of the rail.

When a train passes over the track, the wheels of the train roll over the rails and in passing over the joint described above press downwards on the abutting rail heads of the joint and force them towards one another. The V-groove or slot 14 permits the rails to expand and contract under the wheel pressure, and the slots 9 through which the bolts 5a pass and are fastened by lock washers 6a and nuts 7a permit a longitudinal expansion and contraction of the rails at the joint. This allowance for expansion and contraction will provide for a longer life of the rail and prevent derailment of trains caused by buckling of rail ends at the joints.

It is believed the construction and advantages have been fully set forth and that further detailed description is not required.

While the preferred embodiment has been set forth it is understood that minor modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A rail joint comprising a pair of elongated members disposed on opposite sides of a pair of alined rails and extending across the joint between the rails, each member having a vertical portion in contact with the web of the rails bent along its upper edge to engage the underside of the rail head and a base portion formed to engage the upper and lower faces of the base flange of the rail, said vertical portion having a V-shaped slot depending from the upper edge thereof in alinement with the joint of the rails to permit longitudinal expansion and contraction of said vertical portion, bolts extending through longitudinal slots formed in said vertical portion on opposite sides of said V-shaped slot and the webs of the rails, bolts extending through the base portions of said members beneath the rails for securing the base portions in engagement with the base flanges of the rails and reinforcing ribs extending vertically of said vertical portion on opposite sides of said V-shaped slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,471 Workman Sept. 10, 1912 1,109,440 McElrath Sept. 1, 1914 1,237,593 Wightman Aug. 21, 1917 1,462,290 Lauby July 17, 1923 1,517,480 Wilson Dec. 2, 1924 2,172,929 Backes Sept. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,089 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1901 

